A new training fund has been set up for the workforce of Grampian Country Food Group's Buckie pork factory which is due to close in November.

Workers affected by the closure will be able to apply for up to £500 towards costs associated with retraining or to acquire new skills that will improve their prospects of securing alternative employment.

Local enterprise company HIE Moray and Grampian Country Food Group have contributed £20,000 each to fund the scheme.

Douglas Yule, chief executive of HIE Moray, said: "I am very pleased that the company and ourselves have been able to establish this £40,000 fund to help people affected by the closure of the plant. The scheme will be administered by HIE Moray in conjunction with other public sector partners in the area.

"The priority for the local enterprise company in this type of situation is to do all we can to support the people whose jobs have gone.  Along with this scheme we will continue work with our other public sector partners through the Scottish Executive's PACE initiative (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) offering practical help to seek new employment and training opportunities."

Ian McGill, Grampian's human resources project manager for its pork business said: "With the assistance of HIE Moray every effort is being made to help our colleagues at Buckie find alternative employment. This training fund will provide people with the opportunity to retrain and look for new employment prospects in the area." 

Grampian Country Food Group announced in April that the Buckie processing plant, which employed 330 staff, was to close. Many of the staff were offered the chance to relocate to the company's pork factory in Edinburgh or its chicken plant in Banff.

Around 100 workers will remain at the Buckie plant until its expected closure date in the second week of November.